Purchasing in the Winter

[CarlF]

I would wait until spring. Never "chase" after a sale. Very unlikely it won't be there in the spring with the same or lower price.

Negotiate the price and sea trial in late March or as soon as the yard get's some docks in.

No reason to own a sailboat when you can't go sailing.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by CarlF

I would wait until spring. Never "chase" after a sale. Very unlikely it won't be there in the spring with the same or lower price.

Negotiate the price and sea trial in late March or as soon as the yard get's some docks in.

No reason to own a sailboat when you can't go sailing.

Or put a deposit on it -- in escrow -- until decent survey and test-sail weather arrives.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by keepondancin

Between a good broker, a good surveyor and some good luck, and some bad luck, I would rate the experience as an 8.5. You sometimes have to just wing it, and take your chances.

Useful info

Appreciate that business practices vary from place to place, but as a Vendor I can't quite get comfortable with the Escrow idea - particularly some "Idiot" new owner with a few months to f#ck up the boat (aka making "improvements" )......and who then claims "not me guv" when the mast falls down....or simply trys it on......and of course simple wear & tear doesn't stop for a few months whilst the paperwork is sorted.

But if that is what makes the deal (and the deal itself is good enough), then I could live with it.

As a buyer I would simply put a deposit down until spring.

[Auspicious]

I would not buy a boat without a sea trial. Owner should be prepared on a good faith offer contingent on survey and sea trial to splash the boat.

[S/V Illusion]

There are three categories of sea trials:
1. a buyer trying to figure out what all those ropes are for (the novice);
2. a buyer who thinks he has enough experience to tell if everything works (the self-delusional); and
3. the buyer who is looking for a bailout option if he changes his mind.

Sea trails are way over-rated and in most cases serve only to provide a false sense of security.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by S/V Illusion

There are three categories of sea trials:
1. a buyer trying to figure out what all those ropes are for (the novice);
2. a buyer who thinks he has enough experience to tell if everything works (the self-delusional); and
3. the buyer who is looking for a bailout option if he changes his mind.

Sea trails are way over-rated and in most cases serve only to provide a false sense of security.

I disagree with you - appreciate that a seatrial won't reveal everything (need to take a boat apart to do that ).......but nonetheless will make sure the sails go up and the engine runs......for a boat that hasn't been used for a while can be quite revealing. Of course owner thinks she is all good - was 2 years ago..........

In my case 2 boats spring to mind:-

One where the Engine went pop during the Sea Trial - looked quite major - glad I wasn't paying!

Second was another Seadog 30' - drove a couple of hundred miles, Owner didn't want to take her out - bit windy Later I found out that a new owner re-engined her.......Of course the Vendor knew A few other things (that they had tried to hide) and simply meeting the owner and wife were enough to put me off anyway.......with some folk you can smell the BS

Oh, and one boat had the boom fall off during a sea trial - and then it ran aground (with the tide coming back at Midnight)........but that was me as Vendor (and the fella still bought her same day - and did the Midnight refloat, alone ).